A blog about old movies: classic film reviews and essays about actors and actresses. Download free fonts based on Classic Hollywood.

Feb 7, 2014

Classic actors' last lines on film (part one?)

The screenwriter didn't know that he or she was redacting what would end being the last lines spoken by a Classic Star in a motion picture. That's a powerful thought.

I collected some of my favorite actors' last moments, in which I consider to be the first of a series of posts (fingers crossed). I included only their last proper films, because some of them did unfindable TV series or TV movies at the end of their careers.

Carole Lombard: To be or not to be (1942)I like the fact that her last scene and line is playful and cheerful. She's a festive bully.

REPORTER: And you, Mr. Tura. You played the real hero in this amazing play.JOSEF: I did my best and I was very ably assisted by my colleagues. Thank you, my friends, for everything you did. As little as it may have been.REPORTER: I am sure England will want to show its gratitude. What do you desire most, Mr. Tura?JOSEF: Well, l--MARIA: He wants to play Hamlet.JOSEF: After all, we are in the country of William Shakespeare--MARIA: He wants to play Hamlet.

Clark Gable & Marilyn Monroe: The misfits (1961)I like the fact Marilyn last completed film is intense and well-acted. She deserved it I guess. I like their lines, they're trascendental and powerful.

GAY: Well, I'm finished with it. It's... It's like ropin' a dream now. Just gotta find another way to be alive, that's all. If there is one any more. Perce, cut that mare loose for me, will you?PERCE: Sure.GAY (to Roslyn): Drive you back, if you want.PERCE: Um, I'm pleased to have met you, Roslyn.ROSLYN: Don't get hurt any more, will you, Perce?GAY: See you around, Guido.GUIDO: Where'll you be? Polishin' windshields? Makin' change in a supermarket? Try the Laundromat! They need a fella there to load the machines! Gay!ROSLYN: I'll leave tomorrow. OK?GAY: I bless you, girl.ROSLYN: Gay, if there could be one person in the world...a child who could be brave from the beginning...I was scared to when you asked me. But I'm not so much now. Are you?GAY: No.ROSLYN: How do you find your way back in the dark?GAY: Just head for that big star straight on. The highway's under it. It'll take us right home.

THE NEXT DIALOG = SPOILER (you've been warned )

Gary Cooper: The Naked Edge (1961)This movie is very good and little known! I wrote about it in case you're interested. And I think that it's great that Gary's last film is a thriller, because it expanded his range of genres and allows you to see him in a very suffocating atmosphere, alongside Miss Kerr.

GEORGE: I was so sure it was Heath. I've condemned the wrong man.MARTHA: So did I.

Bette Davis: Wicked stepmother (1989)Uhm, I had never heard of this movie before. It seems that it's awful, but I like the novel line, very Bette-ish :) Seems that her voice can be heard after this scene, but it's her actual last physical appearance.

MIRANDA: I was reading a sexy novel.JENNY: Hey Miranda, don't try any tricks. You can't hide it now. Inspection! I saw it. I saw it in here!MIRANDA: You saw what?JENNY: I looked at the window. Got you there!MIRANDA: Jenny needs help. Boy, it's a terrible affliction.JENNY: There was a cat in here, I can tell it: my upper lip it's still itching. I now what you did with it! You threw it out the window! Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Meow. I'm going to search every inch of this room.
(Door bell rings)MIRANDA: Who do you suppose that is?MAN: You woke up one of the neighbors.MIRANDA: Priscilla.MAN: Priscilla who?MIRANDA: My daughter, Priscilla. She has come to visit.JENNY: No.MIRANDA: I wrote to her and asked her to come. You are going to love her.
(Magically disappears).

Audrey Hepburn: Always (1989)Audrey played God in her last film. There is nothing else to add.

PETE: What do you want from me, Hap? If I'm really dead, how come I hurt so bad? What kind of deal is this? You said I was going back to be an inspiration. You never said I would feel what I'm feeling. You didn't tell me that I would...see Dorinda. What do you really want from me?HAP: We gave you a chance to say: "I'm glad I lived. I'm glad I was alive. Now it's my turn to give you a hand. Let me give you what I had." But I also sent you back to settle with the one you love. I sent you back to say goodbye. Until you do that, she won't be free. And neither will you.PETE: I'm not ready to say goodbye.HAP: You're such a good man, Pete. We don't send back the other kind. But you still have to learn that to gain your freedom, you have to give it. So go find out.

Katharine Hepburn: Love affair (1994)The grandma (Janou/Ginny) scene in these films is always soooo emotive. I like the fact that Katharine was the last granny and that it's a goodbye scene.

GINNY: Five o'clock. You must go?TERRY: Yes. May I?GINNY: Thank you. Thank you. I wore this when I was married.TERRY: Beautiful.GINNY: Well, off you go. These petals are supposedly the hands of a Polynesian princess. It's been hanging around for 62 years and it's still holding together. I wish I could say the same for myself.MIKE: We'll see you soon.

4 comments:

Clara, I'm delighted to see you back with VIA MARGUTTA 51! You've touched both my funny bone and my heart with these final movie lines from these favorite film stars' last words from their last films. The last lines from Audrey Hepburn and from Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe were especially poignant. Great job!

Wow, these are great! Watching films "out of order" as a modern viewer, I sometimes forget where we are in the timeline of that actor's life... thanks for putting in all in perspective! Touching to see that many of these were appropriate to their life's work.

"Clara over at Via Margutta has such an amazing blog. It's got a great design and she always has interesting and creative posts, for example this Gift guide for Classic Movie Fans or fun games like When I Say You Say. I don't comment nearly as much as should—that should change! Check her out, you won't be sorry!"